Terence, Andria front.subject_1

INTRODUCTION. THE Andria derives its name from Glycerium, the heroine of the play; who was from Andros. Upon her previous history turns the dénouement of the plot. Chremes and Phania were brothers, two Athenian citizens. On occasion of a voyage to Asia Chremes had left his only daughter Pasibula with Phania, who shortly afterwards followed his brother to Asia to escape from a war that was raging in Greece. He was overtaken by a storm, and shipwrecked, together with Pasibula, upon the island Andros. He there attached himself as a client to a citizen, who entertained him liberally, and upon his death, which occurred shortly after, adopted Pasibula and brought her up with his own daughter Chrysis, having changed her name to Glycerium. Chrysis upon the death of her father went to Athens with her reputed sister, and, after making shift for an honest livelihood, at last took up the profession of a courtezan. At her house many young men congregated, and among others Pamphilus, the son of Simo, who there saw and fell in love with Glycerium, and became her accepted lover, making her a promise of marriage, which was rendered more binding by the parting injunctions of Chrysis, who upon her deathbed commended Glycerium as a sacred trust to Pamphilus. Meanwhile Pamphilus has another affair on his hands. For Chremes has had another daughter since the loss of Pasibula, and is very anxious that she should be well married to such an excellent young man as Pamphilus, who, happily, while enjoying himself in his own way, has gained a character which is the admiration of every one. So Philumena and Pamphilus are betrothed by their parents, entirely without the knowledge of the bridegroom elect. All this time Simo has fully believed in his son’s excellence; but is undeceived by an event which takes place at the funeral of Chrysis, where Pamphilus shows something more than an ordinary solicitude for a young woman whom Simo ascertains to be the sister of Chrysis. The matter takes wind, and reaches the ears of Chremes, with the additional circumstance of Pamphilus’ connexion with her, upon which he breaks off the match.